It's the beginning of the end.
Yes, Stanford and USC already have played one Pac-12 Conference game. But Saturday is when league play begins in earnest — the last run in football for the "Conference of Champions" as we've come to know it.
And boy, is it a doozy. Half of the six matchups pit ranked teams against each other. From 12:30 p.m. on, every time slot features a Pac-12 doubleheader.
The Star sports staff's prognosticators — Brett Fera, Michael Lev and Justin Spears — are in midseason form, more or less. See below for our straight-up winners, picks against the spread and season records.
For more on this week’s predictions — including a breakdown of the Arizona-Stanford game — check out The Wildcast Podcast. It’s available on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Matchup: No. 19 Colorado (+21) at No. 10 Oregon
Time/TV: 12:30 p.m., ABC/9
Fera’s prediction: Oregon to win, Colorado to cover
Lev’s prediction: Oregon to win, Colorado to cover
Spears’ prediction: Oregon to win, Colorado to cover
Matchup: No. 22 UCLA (+6) at No. 11 Utah
Time/TV: 12:30 p.m., FOX/11
Fera’s prediction: Utah to win and cover
Lev’s prediction: Utah to win and cover
Spears’ prediction: Utah to win and cover
Arizona tight end Tanner McLachlan, left, and running back Jonah Coleman, right, gather around wide receiver Jacob Cowing after he scored in the third quarter of Arizona's win over UTEP on Sept. 16 at Arizona Stadium.
Matchup: Arizona (-12.5) at Stanford
Time/TV: 4 p.m., Pac-12 Networks
Fera’s prediction: Arizona to win and cover
Lev’s prediction: Arizona to win, Stanford to cover
Spears’ prediction: Arizona to win and cover
Matchup: No. 14 Oregon State (-3) at No. 21 Washington State
Time/TV: 4 p.m., FOX/11
Fera’s prediction: Washington State to win outright
Lev’s prediction: Washington State to win outright
Spears’ prediction: Oregon State to win and cover
Washington edge rusher Bralen Trice, right, tries to work his way past Tulsa offensive lineman Darrell Simpson during their game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Seattle.
Matchup: Cal (+20.5) at No. 8 Washington
Time/TV: 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Fera’s prediction: Washington to win and cover
Lev’s prediction: Washington to win and cover
Spears’ prediction: Washington to win, Cal to cover
Matchup: No. 5 USC (-35) at Arizona State
Time/TV: 7:30 p.m., FOX/11
Fera’s prediction: USC to win and cover
Lev’s prediction: USC to win and cover
Spears’ prediction: USC to win and cover
LAST WEEK
Fera: 5-1 straight up, 2-4 against the spread
Lev: 6-0 SU, 4-2 ATS
Spears: 6-0 SU, 3-3 ATS
SEASON TO DATE
Fera: 19-3 SU, 11-11 ATS
Lev: 18-4 SU, 10-12 ATS
Spears: 17-5 SU, 13-9 ATS
VIDEO: Arizona football coach Jedd Fisch speaks with media on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. (Arizona Athletics YouTube)
